utility rack issue

[centxrunner]

Well we've had our new 06 SR5 for a week now and over the weekend I washed it for the first time. While I was soaping down the roof my elbow hit the rear passenger side utility rack mount trim piece. I noticed it was really loose and when I gave it a jiggle it came off. I put it back on and it poped back into place but it still feels very loose. Then tonight on the way home from dinner at a stop light I notice a 03-05 4runner next to me that was missing the exact same trim piece. Leading me to think that this might be a problem with many 4runners. Anyone else have this problem?

 

[teotwaki]

Well we've had our new 06 SR5 for a week now and over the weekend I washed it for the first time. While I was soaping down the roof my elbow hit the rear passenger side utility rack mount trim piece. I noticed it was really loose and when I gave it a jiggle it came off. I put it back on and it poped back into place but it still feels very loose. Then tonight on the way home from dinner at a stop light I notice a 03-05 4runner next to me that was missing the exact same trim piece. Leading me to think that this might be a problem with many 4runners. Anyone else have this problem?

Nope. My SR5 is 19 moths old now. Pester the dealer yet??

 

[Bosconian]

I've got 50K on my truck and it's still in there tight. You probably just got a defective piece. I'm sure you can request one from your dealer.

 

[T4RUSAF]

mine was lodged off slightly also but then I just slammed on it and it popped into place. First time I noticed it though in about 2 years.

 

[toto]

My rear trim pieces wiggle a tiny bit, but not bad enough to fall off anytime soon.

The roof rack crossbars are not installed when the dealer gets the 4Runner so that the roof may be covered with protective plastic wrap. To put them on, you need to remove both rear trim pieces and slide the rails forward. It's up to the dealer to put the bars in and then replace the rear trim pieces.

Sounds like the dealer didn't put them back together properly on your truck or they broke one or more little tabs inside.

You have to put them on carefully. In the picture below, you line up tab A, press down but not all the way on B, snap in side C (the outside), and then finally snap in side D (the roof side). If you just push hard on B and try to lock both sides at once, the tabs could break.

(This info is from TSB # PD003-03, Roof Rack Cross Bar Insallation During Pre-Delivery Setup.)

 

[toto]

You'll also notice that the crossbars have a big arrow on either side near where you lock them down. The arrow should be pointing forward, toward the front of the truck. If the dealer puts the bars in backwards, they'll make horrible wind noises on the highway.

 

[CVsGX470]

You'll also notice that the crossbars have a big arrow on either side near where you lock them down. The arrow should be pointing forward, toward the front of the truck. If the dealer puts the bars in backwards, they'll make horrible wind noises on the highway.

It is disgusting to even think that the stealer would do such a thing.

CV

 

[MnRunr]

Ive noticed mine is quite loose, but it hasnt come off yet..

with all of this, I'll try to get a replacement piece next time I stop by the dealer.

Thanks!

 

[centxrunner]

Thanks for all the info! I havn't picked up my plates from the dealer yet so will be asking for a new trim piece when I get them. I also had a rattle coming from the roof rack but I think it was one of the lockdown nuts was just really loose only noticed it at highway speeds,

 

[cskennedy]

I lost one of these pieces for my '06 (no real idea how it happened). Toyota tells me that I need to buy a whole new rack for $270 (cad). Apparently the racks are ordered from Japan as a unit... I can't get the piece by itself.

I'm trying to find one from a salvage yard, but if anybody has any ideas or tips on finding this part it'd be appreciated...

 

[CNI]

hmmm. that's one of the first things I'll check when I get delivery of my new 4R